Regulation of Suppressor T Cell Function Specific for Ir Controlled Antigens

I-region-coded nonresponder T cell-derived suppressor extracts (TsF) specific for l-glutamic acid⁶⁰-l-alanine³⁰-l-tyrosine¹⁰ (GAT) or l-glutamic acid⁵⁰-l-tyrosine⁵⁰ (GT) induce T suppressor cells (Ts₂) in vivo and in vitro in nonresponder spleen cells. This induction requires both an I-J subregion coded TsF and also specific antigen. The Ts₂ cells are I-J⁺ and do not acquire these I-J determinants from passively adsorbed TsF. Further, Ts₂ are highly antigen specific, being able to selectively suppress GAT vs GT-MBSA responses in the same strain. In the GT model, H-2^a mice fail to produce GT-TsF, while H-2^b mice cannot yield active Ts₂ when exposed to GT-TsF. (B6A)F₁ mice complement for GT suppression by reciprocal parental contribution of the missing suppressor components. No H-2 identity requirements for Ts₂ generation by TsF have been noted in nonresponders, and Ts₂ induction by nonresponder TsF can also occur in responder spleen cells, indicating lack of requirement for Ir matching between TsF donor and recipient.